Garuda Purana 2.2.22 — Preta Kalpa, Adhyaya 2, Shloka 22

The Extent of Questions: Deathbed Rites, Kāla (Time), and Karma-Vipāka Rebirths

Devanagari script

दर्भाग्रे शङ्करं विद्यात्त्रयो देवाः कुशे स्मृताः / विप्रा मन्त्राः कशा वह्निस्तुलसी च खगेश्वर

Transliteration

darbhāgre śaṅkaraṃ vidyāttrayo devāḥ kuśe smṛtāḥ / viprā mantrāḥ kaśā vahnistulasī ca khageśvara

Translation

Sabe que en la punta de la hierba darbha está presente Śaṅkara (Śiva); y que los tres dioses son recordados como moradores en el kuśa. Los brāhmaṇas, los mantras, la vara/azote ritual, el fuego sagrado y también Tulasī—oh señor de las aves—han de ser tenidos como presencias sacras y poderosas en los ritos.

Word by Word

• दर्भाग्रे: at the tip of darbha grass
• दर्भाग्रे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दर्भस्य अग्रे)

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विद्यात्: one should know/recognize
• विद्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: Karta (Qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् (देवाः)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कुशे: in the kuśa grass
• कुशे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• स्मृताः: are remembered/considered
• स्मृताः: Karta (Predicate adjective/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त (क्त) → स्मृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे ‘are remembered/considered’

• विप्राः: brāhmaṇas
• विप्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मन्त्राः: mantras
• मन्त्राः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कशाः: whips/straps
• कशाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कशा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• वह्निः: fire (Agni)
• वह्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तुलसी: Tulasī
• तुलसी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• खगेश्वर: O lord of birds (Garuda)
• खगेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/vocative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (खगानाम् ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda)

Shraddha Ritual

Ritual Type: Parvana

Beneficiary: Pitr

Timing: During preparation/placement of darbha/kuśa and invocation in śrāddha/homa contexts

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual supports are not inert; they are loci of devatā and mantra-śakti, demanding purity, respect, and correct handling.

Vedantic Theme: Śakti and nāma-rūpa as vehicles for the divine; the sacred permeates the material when aligned with dharma.

Application: Handle darbha/kuśa, agni, mantra, brāhmaṇas, and Tulasī with reverence; avoid disrespect, impurity, or casual disposal during rites.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.2.21 (Brahmā at root; Viṣṇu in middle); Garuda Purana 2.2.23 (non-remnant sancta)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Trimurti (three gods)
• Agni
• Tulasi
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of darbha and kuśa grass in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse teaches that darbha and kuśa are not merely plants but are treated as seats of divine presence—Śaṅkara at the tip of darbha and the three gods within kuśa—thereby sanctifying śrāddha and other post-death rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana death rituals like śrāddha and piṇḍa-dāna?

By identifying sacred presences in ritual supports (grass, mantras, Agni, Tulasi, and officiating brāhmaṇas), the text emphasizes that correct materials and sanctified agents make offerings effective for the preta’s onward journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During funeral rites or ancestral offerings, use darbha/kuśa and maintain reverence for mantra, Agni, Tulasi, and qualified priests—treating them as sacred supports rather than as ordinary items.